Multiple-series switch



May 8, 1928. ,l 66972 V, R. DESPARD v MULTIPLE SERIES SWITCH- med oci. le. 1925 A asheepsqsheep 2 j i ndzX//Z i925.

May 8, 1928. l 1,669,372

A v. R. DESPARD MULTIPLE SERIES SWITCH im l I ,Ng liv l, I

` haar@ ffaffgpafd Patented May' s, 192s.

UNITED STATES tasti.'- PATENT OFFICE.

"VICTOR R. DESPARD, OF VALPARAISO, INDIANA, ASSIGNOVR'TO MCGILL MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

' MULTIPLE-'SERIES swlrn.

applicati@ ined october 16, 1925. sei-iai No. 62,833.

My invention relates to means for connecting a pluralityvof circuits each including an electrical device either in seriesor in parallel, and more particularly to a mulltiple-series switch for accomplishing -this purpose.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide' means for connecting a pair of electrical devices with a source of current supply-either l in series or in parallel, said means comprismanently With-the source of current supply.

2n and switching means is provided that has contacts connected with the source of current and with both terminals of both of the -lamps and has also contacts cooperating with said first mentioned contacts to con-4 nect the other terminals of each ot the lamps with the source of current supply or with each other to illuminate said lamps substan-l tially equally, both when bright and dim. This is particularly desirable when the lamps are arranged in a cluster, such as in a reading lamp or floor lamp or a bracket tixture Where it is desirable that the same illamination be obtained from the two lamps at all times to obtain a better appearance for the lamp or other lighting fixture and to obtain a. more uniform illumination therefrom than Would otherwise be possible. In other Words, the lamps are connected in parallel v. hen bright and are of substantially V equal brightness and are connected in series when dimmed to thus be again illuminated with substantially equa-l brightness. It is a further purpose of my invention to provide a device'for connecting the said electrical devices either in series or in parallel comprising` a pair of contacts each connected with 'a conductor leading from a source of current supply and with a conductor leading to an electrical device and a second pair of contacts each connected With a' conductor leading to one of said electrical devices and a movable member havingcontacts mountedthereon adapted to bridge said first mentioned contacts to connect said electrical devices with said source, either in series or in parallel. Preferably, the movable contact member is rotatable and preferably, also,'.alivays rotatable in thesame direction. In order to obtain the parallel and series connection in the simplest manner, one of the contacts of one pair is preferably. provided with an extension so that the movable contact means will connect said extension with the other contact of the pair to make the series'connection. The contacts on-the rotatable member are preferably a' pair ofbridging contacts arranged on opposit-e Sides of the center of rotation of said member so as to make the proper series and parallel connections in the simplest manner. The stationary contacts are also preferably arranged in pairs lying substantially diainetrically opposite each other and the contacts on the movable contactlmember when the parts are in position to make the parallel or multiple connection preferably each bridge from one contact of one of the opposite pairs to a con-tact of the other opposite pair.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide a multiple-series switch of the above mentioned character comprising a ro-4 tatable member that is adapted to assume a plurality of positions by a step by step rotation thereof. `In the particular embodiments shown, the number of positions inv one complete rotation of the device is six. These comprise three dierent positions, that is,

the series of positions repeats itself in the course of the rotation of the rotatable member. In one of these positions, the electrical devices, such as the lamps associated with the switch, are connected in parallel, I

in another position they are connected in series and in thethird position they are disconnected from each other so that no cur- 'A rent tlovvs through the same. In order to make a device of this character as compact as possible and to assure the user that the los llt)

that the contacts engage and disengage quickly, accordingly, the device is so constructed that a snap action is obtained for the switching means.

In order to carry out these purposes in the most efficient lmanner with'the, least use of certain of these faces and these faces are prefof insulating space, it has beenfound particularly desirable to make the body portion of the switch enclosing the movable parts of insulating materia-l and to form fac'es thereon that provide.

the series of ratchet teeth whereby the s nap action of the switch isv obtained. rIhe station-. ar'y contacts, connected as referred to above to the various devices associated with the switch, have portions that preferably overlie erably arranged in an annular series around a central depression or recess within which -the`movable contact carrying means seats.

Said means preferably comprises a member material `disk-,like in form that nests in sai recess with the bridging contactmembers mounted Yon the exposed face thereof, said contact,y members having extensions `overlapping the periphery of the disk-like member so as to align with the movable contact carrying member.

stationary contacts as themovable contact member is rotated in its step by step movement, being guided in said movement by its engagement with said recess. In orderlto obtain the desired snap action, resilient means is provided for holding the contacts on t-he movable member in engagement with the ratchet teeth or with the contacts thereon, said resilient means being preferably mounted on an operatingspindle or stem,"

that is in operative engagement with the It is one of the important purposes of the invention toprovide a switch mechanism of the above mentioned oharacterthat issimple in construction and has a minimum number of parts. vFor this reason, the terminals to which the conductors leadingl from the switch are connected are formed in one with the stationary contacts and the stationary .contacts are preferably made 4as few innumber as is possible to obtain the desired operation of the switch. For this reason, one of said contacts in the preferred form isextended to overlie two of the ratchet faces so as to make it possible to obtain the series connection as well as the parallel connection with only four contacts. The stem or spindle for rotating the movable contact carrying member is preferably also connectedv with the device in the simplest possible manner, beingmerely flattened and extending into an elongated opening in the insulating disk of the movable contact carrying member and lbeing' surrounded by a coil spring whereby the resilient action necessary to hold the disk in its proper positionl and obtain the snap action results. The mov'- able contact carrying member is also made in Lacasse vided with portions that are mounted between said insulating body portion and an insulating gasket below the cover plate to hold the same in position. The spring isalso' insulated from the contacts on the movable contact carrying member 'r by an insulating washermounted on the operating. spindle.

The stationary contacts are preferably so mounted that they align with openings extending through the insulating body portion whereby contact can be readily made therewith for testing purposes. This is particu-I larly desirable because conductors or pigtail connections are provided on the terminals associated with the contacts in order tomake the proper connections with the line and the lamps or other electrical devices. The provision of the openings for testing purposes makes it unnecessary to bare the ends of the wires forming the'pigtail oo nnections for testing purposes.

Other objectsand advantages of the invention will appear as the description of the accompanying drawings proceeds. 'How-` ever, I desire to have it distinctly understood that I do not intend to limit myself to the exact details shown or described, -but that I intend to include as part of my in-' vention all such obvious changesv and modi fications of parts as would occur to a person skilled in this art and as would fall .within the scope of the claims,

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan View of my improved swith, the conductors leading therefrom being partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan view' similar to Fig. l with the cover and the outer operating vparts of 1 the mechanism removed;

Fig. 4 is a section of the switch mechanism, a portion of the operating means being broken away, the section being taken on a line corresponding to the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5'is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

. Fig. Q vis a perspective view of the movable Contact carrying member; f

Fig. 7 is a View partly in side elevatio and partly in section thereof;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the.

isn

` circuit connections for my improved switch therewith;

mechanism where-by the series and connections are obtained;

Fig. 9 is an elevational view showing my switching mechanismapplied to anelectrical fixture having two lamps associated parallel Fig. 10 is a section `taken 10-10 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the operating spindle;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the insulating disk mounted on said spindle;

on the line Fig. 13 is an inside face view of the in-v sulatin body portion with the other portions of the switch mechanism and the contactsremoved therefrom; i

Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional view of a modified form of my invention; i

Fig. 15, is a 'section taken on' the line 15-15 of Fig. 14; and

Fig. 16 is-a section taken on the line 16-16 of Fig. 14.,

Referring in detail to the drawings in the preferred form shown in Figs. l to 13inelusive, my improved switch mechanism comprises an insulating body portion 2() which may be made*V of any .suitable insulating material, "but is preferably madeof molded insulating material such as bakelite'. Said body portion is provided with a cover plate 21v and an insulating gasket or washer 22 is provided between said `cover plate and said body portion 20. The body portion is provided withVV a vsubstantially central preferably circular recess 23 formed in the material thereof adjacent which is an an# nular shoulder, 24 which is arranged concen- .trically relative tothe opening 23 and sur-y rounds the same. Said shoulderI 24 is provided with-a plurality of faces 25 and 26Vtogether-orming ratchet teeth, as will be clear from Figs. 5 and 13. The faces 25 are inclined at an oblique angle to a plane parallel tothe plane in which the bottom of the recess 23 lies and are relatively long, vwhile the faces 26 are relatively shortand are also inclined at an oblique angle to a' plane parallel to the bottom wall of t-he recess 23, but in an opposite direction to thev faces 25.

Mounted Within the recess 23 is an insulating rotatable contact carrying member 27,

preferably disk-like in shape. The wall por'- tion 28 of the recess 23 is preferably of such a height and the thickness of the disk 27 is .preferably such that when the parts are in Figs. 6, and 7 and hasmounted thereon a pair of similar bridging contacts 30. -Said contacts are provided leach with a pair of openings 31 arranged' in` spaced relation through which the` leg portions 32 of the staples 33 extend. Said leg portions also extend through paired openings 31 in the member 27 aligning with the openings 31.

The ends 34 thereofV are clinched over as 70 shown in Fig. 7 to firmly secure the contact members 30 in fixed position on the disk 27 due to the provision of the staples with the paired prongs or legs 32 'and the paired openings members. l

The contact members 3 0 are' provided with vcontact makingportions 35, 36, 37 p and 38,

said contact making portions being similar and projecting beyond the periphery of the disk-like insulating supporting member 27. The material of the disk-like member is cut away or notched, as indicated at 39, under each of said contact portions so as to provide for the proper flexibility of theseparts. S5.

Said contactfcarrying member 27 is rotatable in only one direction, as will be described below, andthe contact making portions ,.35, 36, 37 and 38 are all inclined, as

will bevclear from Figs. 6 and 7, so that the 90 edges thereof lying on the forward side .of said contacts when the device is rotating lie at the greater distance from the upper sur- .face of the disk 27 than the rear portions thereof, thus giving a sort of camming actionA to the movable contacts whereby the same will always engage properly with the stationary contacts,.which will be described below.

The rotatable contact carrying member 100..

27 is further provided with an elongated opening 40 into which the flattened end portion 41 of a spindle 42 for rotating the member 27 extends. The end portion 41 of said spindle is provided with a pair of flat faces tion'45 which has a collar 46 thereon with 115 which one end of the coil compression spring 47 engages, said spring surrounding the lspindle 4,2 and engaging against an insulating washer 48 which is placed between'the contacts 30 and the end of the spring to'gin` 120 vsulate said'contacts from said spring. lSaid disk-like member 48 isl provided with an elongated opening'49 for receiving the flat. tened portion 41 of the spindle 42.

Cooperating with the bridging contacts 3() 125 of the movable contact carrying member 27 are the stationary Contact members 50, 51,`A

5,2 and`5`3. The contacts 50, 52 and 53 are substantially alike, while the contact 51 is 1 provided with an extension 54, the purposel w in the eontactand insulating 75 play beof 'which will be described below. Each of the contacts 50, 51, 52 and 53 is provided with an ear 55. Each of the ears 55 lies inV a groove 56 in the insulating body portion and is provided with a terminal portion 57 lying in apocket or recess 58 inr the insulating body portion 20. Each ofthe terminals 57 is provided with a sleeve-like or tubularportion 59 that rests-in an opening 60 extending entirely through the insule member 2O so` accessible through the bottom or rear face of the member 20 for testing purposes, as

. 10 by the numeral 65 62, 63 and 64 are each provided with the ing portion Y be noted that the will be clear from Fig. 10. The particular' structure of the stationary contacts and lterminals form the subject matter of a copending application by myself and Mr. Hans C. R. Popp, Serial No. 62,835, tiled October'16, 1925.

The terminalsassociated with the contacts 50, 51, 52 .and 53 have the conductors 61, 62,7 63 and 64 secured thereto, respectively, by passing the bared ends thereof through the sleeve-like portions 59 and soldering the same in position ,by dipping or in any other-` manner,` the solder being indicated in Fig.

usual insulating covering 66, and while the same is shown as being broken away inthe drawings to more clearly show the conduc-` tors within the same, yet this would not be the case in the actual construction of the device, as thesame would be left with the ends merely cut off without being bared, as the baring thereof is unnecessary by providing the test openings in the base member 20. j I

Each-of the contacts 50, 52 and 53 are arranged to lie on one of the elongated inclined spacing the is in effect occupying twoof a Asingle series, each lylng on similar faces plicity and compactness.

of the ratchet teeth 'and that contacts rotatable inthe samepath engage therewith. Thus, the engaging portions of the stationary contacts are arranged in a single tier axially of the switch, as are also the movable contacts, which is desirable for the sake of sim- It is important that the contacts be arranged in .a single tier so that the movable contacts successively engage with all of the same, no matter whether the same are allengaged by the same face of s a-id movable contacts or otherwise.

that said terminals areV The conductors 61,'

. compression.

Leeaeva The faces 26 are inclined at an oblique angle 'rather than at right angles to the bottom of the recess 23 as the gap between the adjoining contacts is thus increased, it being obvious that the distance along the inclined face 26 is greater than if a right angular face were provided. yThe projecting ends 3,5, 3G, 37` and 38 of the contact-inembers overlap the shoulder 24 and suc'ces` sively engage with the stationary contacts on said shoulder. Tins engagement is brought about by snap'action due to the provision of the spring 47 which presses the member 27 into the recess 23 and holds the same properly yieldably seated therein and furthermore presses the ends of the contact members 30 against the inclined faces of the ratchet teeth. her 27 takes place in only one direction, due

to the provision ofthe spring 'and the ratchet teeth, the ends of the contact members ridingup the long inclinedfaces 25 of the teeth and dropping off the short inclined faces 26 thereof ontothe next/adjacent elongated inclined face 25 with a snap action due to both compression of the spring The rotation of the mem- 47 and the provision of the play in the connection between the member 27 and 'the spindle 42, it being .obvious that the member 27 will jump forwardly in a clockwise direction relative to the spindle a short distance when it reaches the top of the inclined face 26 so as to rapidly drop down the same.

The spindle has operatively connected there- `with an operating member68, the particular connection between said members 68 and the spindle 42 forming the subject matter of a copending application by myself and Hans C. R. Popp, Serial No. 62,834, filed Oct. 16,' 1925.

The cover plate 21 is secured to the insulating body portion 2O by means of suitable screws or other securing means 69 passing through theopenings 70 in said member A2O. The threaded Aboss 71 which may be in the form of a sleeve-like member having a 4iiange 72 thereon brazed or otherwise secured to the flange portion 73 of the cover 21 extends outwardly from said cover member 21. The threaded member 71 is hollow,

forming a tubular casing for vthe spindle 42 that is provided with a flange portion or shoulder 74 at the outer end thereof against which the flange 46 on the spindle engages,` the spring 47 being thus held properly in The threaded member 71 receives a threaded collar 75 by means of which the switch is clamped in position in the fixture. The threaded collar and the threaded portion' 7 lare such size relative to mechanism can be removed and placed in position bymerely removing the collar v75 over the member 68 without removing the' mem.'-

, ber 68 from the switch. A second collar 90 ne 4the -operating member 68 that the switch may be threaded on the member 71 to lock t-he collar -75 in position if desiredV and the iange 73 may be proyided with a plurality .of ears 91 projecting outwardly therefrom with which the collar 75 is adapted to engage. The heads 92 of the securing member 69 may be seated in a suitable recess 93as shown in Fig. 4.l It will be noted that the terminal portions of the Contact members are so mounted as to be housed'A between the insulating member 22 and the boidy portion 2O and held in position between the cover 21 and the member 2O due to the portions 55 being clampedbetween said parts.

In Fig. 9 an application of the switch to an electrical fixture is shown. The xture is indicated by the numeral 76 and is in the form of al bracket having a pair of arms 77 and a body port-ion 78 which is provided with a suitable opening 79 through which the threaded member 7.1 passes, the switch asa whole being indicated by the numeral 8O and lying at the rear side of the body \portion 78 with the operating member 68 only exposed to View from the front of the ixture. Obviously, it is very desirable to have a small compact switch vfor use in this position as the body portion 78 of the fixture is usually quite shallow. By the arrangement of the disk-like movable contact carrying'A member and the arrangement of the ratchet teeth in an annular series lying sub- Y stantially parallel to the bottomor rear wall of the switch housing and the arrangement of tlie resi-lient means in thv` stem portion ofV the switch, the extreme compactness desirable is obtained.l The lamps 81 and 82 are provided on the arms 77, suitable socket members 83 being provided for this purpose.

Referring n'ow lto Fig. 8 which diagraminatically shows the relationship rof the switch mechanism to the lamps and to the line wires in order to obtain the connection of the lamps 81 and 82 either in series or in parallel, it 'will be seen that the line wires 84 and 85 are lconnected respectively with the stationary contacts 50 and 52 and that said terminals furthermore have connected thereto the conductors 86 and 87, eachl leading to one terminal respectively of the lamps 81 and l82. A suitable source of electric current is indicated in the diagram by the numeral 88. The actual connection of the conductors 86 and 84 and the conductors 85 andv 87 respectively with the stationary contacts 52 and 50 is obtained through the conductors 61 and 63 extending from the switch mechanism, the three conductors 61, 85 and 87 being properly secured together in conducting relation at the ends thereof and the conductors 63, 84 and 86 being similarly secured together. In a similar manner, the conductors 62 and 64 are connectedV .with the opposite terminals of theA lamps Slan'd 82 to those to which the conductors 86 and V87 rleading respectively to the contacts51 and 53,'the extension` 54 being, of course, also connected with the conductor 62 Aand the lamp 82 due to the tact that the same is 1n electrical connection with the contact 5 1 by means of the connecting portion 67.. The members 30 are diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 8, the ends thereof being indicated by the numerals by which the same are Videntified in Fig. 3. y

In the position of the switch shown in full lines in Fig. 8, the contact portion Jformed by the end 36 is in engagement with the stationary contact 50 and the contact portion 35 is in contact with the stationary contact 53, while the contacting end 37 is in engagement with the contact 5l and the contacting end 38 with the contact 52. It will be clear that in vthis position of the switch the lamps 81 and 82 are connected in parallel or multiple relation with the Isource of current supply, the current passing from the Wire 85 through the wire 87 to the lamp 82', back through thewire 62 and the contact member 30 engaging with the members 51 and 52 at 37 and 38 to the vstationary contact 52 and then to the other line wire 84. Similarly, the current passes from the conductor 85 and the contact 50 through the end 36 o the other member 30 and by engagement of the end 35 with the contact 53 to the conductor 64, the lamp 81, the conductor 86 and to the contact 52 which `is connected with the other line wire 84.' i

Upon rotation of the member 27 in a clockwise direction one-sixth of a revolution, the

of rests on the one face 25 of the 'ratchet teeth which has no stationary contact provided thereon and which serves as a dead contact.

s This entire member 30 is thus not included vin the circuit when the movable contact member is in this position. rllhe other member 30, however, has the end 37 thereof in engagement with the extension 54 ofthe con-4 tact 51 and' the`end`38 thereof in engagement withthe contact 53, thus connecting' the -lamps 82 and 81 in series, the circuit being` from the conductor85 to the contact 50 through the conductor 87 to the lamp 82, then to the conductor 62, romthis conductor 62 to the contact 51, then to `the extension 54 which is in engagement with' the end 37 of the member 30, the vother end V38 thereof engaging with the contact 5'3, 'then from the contact 53 through the conductor 64 to the lam 81 and from the lamp' 81 through the con uc'tor 86 to the contact 52 which is connected with the other line wire 84.

The next step by step movement of the member 27 lin a clockwise direction brings the end 36 into engagement with the extension 54, the end 35 into engagement with switch, the one bridging contact member 30 extending from the contact 52 to the dead contact 25 and the other bridgingcontact 30 extending from4 the contact 50 to the eXtension 54 of the contact 51 which merely shunts varound the lamp 82 without connecting the same with the other line wire 84.

The three positions described, the first of which is the full line position shown in Fig. 8, the second which, is the dotted line position shown in Fig. 8, and the third of which ,is the dot and `.dash line :position shown in ',Fig. 8, result vfrom therotation of the member 57 half-way around 'its complete cycle of movement. The connections are then repeated 'except that the contact mgm-- ber that has the projecting ends35 and 36 now makes the connections previously made by the member having Athe projecting ends 37 and 38 and vice versa. lIn operation, when `the full line position indicated in Fig. 8 is reached by the movable contact carrying member 27, the lamps 81 and 82 are brightly illuminated, being connected in parallel; when the next position of the movable contact carrying member is reached, the lamps 81 and 82 are dimmed due to the fact that they are connected in series; and when the following position to this is reached, the' lamps 81 and 82 are both in open circuit l condition and extinguished.

It is particularly desirableto provide a .l switch of this characterin a lighting xture etv such as that shown l.or any other lighting xture embodying -a -pair of lamps or two* groups of lamps as two diferent steps of.Vv illumination can thus be obtainedwith sub-vv -stantia'lly absolute uniformityv of illumination from the two sources. f

In Figs. 14 to16 inclusive a modifiedform of the invention is shown in which theinsu lating body portion is made up of anfinsua lating disk .that is imperforatefailislr. 101 ofinsulatingv material that is providedy with vsuitable openings for the stationary contacts and for receiving the ends of the* conductors leading into the switchmechanism-,a disk-.like memberA 120 correspondlrlgv to the memberl 20 inFigs. 1 to 13 inclusive,

'a coverplate 121 and aninsulating4 gasket 122. The membere121 is provided with ears 102 that are clinched'over the' member 100 at 103 to hold the parts in assembled p0sition. Said member 121 is provided with a tubular threaded extension 171-corres'pon`ding to the member 71 in Figs. 1 to 13 inclusive through whichY an operating spindle 142 extends which Ais rotated by means of the operating member 168.

Mountedwithin the member'` 101 in suitable recesses 158 are the terminals 157 proface 104.

meeste y vided on the'conductors 161, 162,163, and 164 corresponding to the conductors 61, 62, 63, and 64 shown in Fig. 3. y

The member'120 is provided with an opening 123., the side wal of which is provi-ded with arcuate faces 1 04 alternating with fiat faces 105, said flat faces .being offset from the arcuate faces 104 at 106 and 107, the offsets 106 being deeper than the offset 107, the odset 107 being merely deep enough so that the contacts 150, 151, 152 and 153 re-l spectively, on the terminal 157 mounted on the conductors 161, 162, 163, and 164 are seated substantially flush withV the arcuate faces 104 at the shoulders 107. A contact 154 is mounted in a similar mannerr and is providedwith an extension 108 that interlies thev terminal 157 having the contact 151 thereon thusv being electrically connected.SI5 extension thereof. The contacts,150,151,

with the contact 151 and being in eiect an in which the S-shaped contact members 130 are; mounted, the ends 114- of Vsaid members 130 engaging with the contacts 150, 151, 152, 153, and 154v 4with ya wiping action and vengaging yieldingly therewith dueto theresiliency, of said contact members 130. Upon lrotation of the member 142 in a clockwise di- 152 and 151, and thecontacts 153 and 150 to connectthe electrical devices in parallel and inthe next position bridging the contacts 154 and 153 to connect the same in seriesand assumingthe position shown in full lines in Fig. 16 when the circuit is broken.

As said members 130rotate, they will move along on the arcuate faces 104V and drop olf the shoulders --106 to engage with `the; con# tacts 150 to 154 with a snap action. The member 105', which is the dead contact in Vthis form,"is1provided with 'only one shoulder 106 whilethe oppos'ite'end'of said face .terminates iiush with'the adjoining curved while the principiefer.;Operation of nie switch shown in Figs. 14 to 16 inclusive is substantially the same as .that shownfin Figs. 1 to 13, the, arrangement is not as desirable from practical standpointv because theswitch is not asfc'ompact and is not as reliable inoperation as in the form shown inFi'gs. 1to 13 inclusive.

Having thus described my invention, whatA l desire .to claim and secure by U. S.

Letters Patentl is 1. In a device of the characterdescribed, a rotatable Contact carrying member, a plurality of stationary contacts,.comprising a pair of contacts serving as terminals of an input circuit, one otsaid contacts serving as lone terminal of one output circuit andr the other contact serving as one terminal of another output circuit, and a pair of contacts serving each respectively as the other terminal of the respective output circuits and a pair of contacts on said rotatable contact carrying member connecting each of said com contacts with one of said output circuit terminal contacts for one position of said rotatable member and connecting said output circuit contacts directly with each other for anl other position of said rotatable member.

' cal devices with said source of current sup` ply either in series or in parallel and means` 2. Ina device of the characterdescribed, a plurality of stationary contacts adapted to have a source of current-supply connected therewith, a plurality of stationary contact-s each adapted to have an electrical device con'- nected therewitlna rotatable member having contacts engaging with said stationary 'contacts by snap action to connect said electrifor 'rotating said rotatable member step in the same direction.

3,)In a device of the character described, an insulating body portion, having a recess therein, a movable Contact carrying member of insulating'material seated :tor rotation in said recess, a pair of contactarms on said step by fmember each having opposite ends projecting laterally outwardly therefrom beyondv the periphery of said recess and ,contacts Aon said body portion adjace'nt said recess col operating with said ends of said contact 4. In a device ofthe character described, an insulating body portion having arecess therein, a shouldered portion provided `with ratchet teeth adjacent said recess and surrounding the same and extending outwardly therebeyond, a Vmovable contact carrying member rotatably mounted in said recess,Y

stationary contacts on said shouldered portion, contact means on said movable contact carrying member and resilient means for yieldably holdingsaid contact -means in engagement with said ratchet teeth and said stationary contacts.v

` 5,. In a device of the an insulatingvbody portion having a recess a therein, an annular shoulder surrounding v(il) said recess having faces providing ratchet --teeth, stationary contacts having-portions overlying certain of said faces, an insulating member rotatably mounted inysaid recess,

bridging contacts on said rotatable insulating v'member insulated from each other Vand having ends projecting over said shoulder and resilient means for `yieldably holding said ined input and loutput circuit terminal disk.

.character described,

bridging contacts in engagement with said ratchet teeth and said stationary contacts.

6. In a device of the character described, an linsulating body portion having a recess therein, an annular shoulder surrounding said recess having faces providing ratchet teeth, stationary contacts having portions overlying4 certain of said faces, an insulating member rotatably mounted in said recess, a pair of bridging vcontacts lying on .opposite sides of the axis of and secured to one face of said rotatable insulating member having ends projecting overysaid shoulder and re silient means tor yyiel'dably. holding said bridging contacts in engagement with said ratchet teeth and said stationary contacts.

7. In a device of thecharacter described.)

an insulating body portion having a recess therein, an annular-shoulder surrounding said recess having faces providing vratchet teeth, stationary contacts having portions overlying certain of said faces, and terminal portions lying outwardly of said shoulder and rotatable contact means cooperating with said stationary contacts, one of said stationary contacts overlying a plurality of said faces.

8. In a device of the character described, an insulating body portion having a substantially circular recess therein, stationary vcontacts mounted thereon outside the rim of said recess, a disk oi insulating material seated and rotatable in said recess and a pair of bridging contact members secured to one face of said disk, l said bridging 'contacts being insulated from each other and having free ends 9; In a device of the character described,

an -insulating body portion having a substan- I tially circular recess therein, stationary contacts mounted thereon, a disk of insulatingv -tacts mounted thereon outside the -,rim ofl said'recess, ay disk oit insulating material seated and rotatable in saidrecess, apair of bridging contact members, means for securing each of saidbridging contact meinbers to said disk at spaced points, said bridging contacts being spaced to insulatev the same from each other, and-'each having both end portions projecting iieyond the rim of said recess to engage said stationary contacts. c

1l. In a device ot the character described,

projecting beyond the edgeof 'said an insulating body portion having a substantially circular recess therein, stationary contacts mounted thereon, a disk of insulating material seated and rotatable in said'recess, a pair of bridgingcontact members, a staple for securing y'each of said bridging contact members to said disk at spaced points, said bridging contacts being spaced to insulate the same 4from each other.

12. In av device of the character described, an insulating base member having a recess therein, an insulating disk rotatably mounted therein, contacts on said base member,

andsaid disk, said disk having a central oblong opening therein, and an operating spindle having an end provided ywith fiat- `tened faces seated in said opening.

. 13. In a device of the character described,

an insulating base member having a recess therein, an insulating contact vsupporting member rotatably mounted therein, cont-acts on said base member and.. said contact supporting member, said contact supporting member having a central oblong opening therein, an Yoperating spindle having an end providediwith flattened faces seated in said opening, and resilient means surrounding said spindle .to yieldinglyl hold said contact supporting member in said recess.`

14. In a deviceof the character described,

an insulatingbase member having a -recess f therein, an vinsulating contactvsupporting member rotatably mounted therein, contacts on said base member and said contact supporting member, said contact supporting member having a central oblong openinfi therein, an operating spindle having an end provided with flattenedffaces seated in said opening, resilient means" surrounding said spindle to yieldingly hold said contact supporting member vin said recess, and .an insulating washer between said vresilienti means and said contact supportingmember.

15'. Ina device of the character described, an insulating member having -a recess in one face thereof, an annular shoulder concentric an insulating member having a recess in onel wit-li said recess and an annular series of ratchet teeth formed in the top face thereof, said ratchet teeth having alternating inclined elongated faces and inclined `short faces vconnecting said elongated faces.

16. In a device ofthe character described,

face thereof, an annular shoulderconcentric with said recess and an annular series4 of ratchet teeth formed in the topiA face thereof, said ratchet teethhaving alternatin inclined elongated faces and inchned s ort faces connecting said elongated faces and stationary contacts having portions resting on certain of said elongated faces.

17.111 a device for connecting a pair of electric vlights with a source of .current either in series or parallel arrangement, snap.,

Yaction means including movable contacts,

aceesra positions corresponding to certain ofl theA positions of said movable contact means, one of said stationary contacts occupying a plurality of said positions, andmeans for moving said -movable contact means into each of its positions with a snap action, said movable contact means comprising a .pair of bridging vcontacts lying in substantially the same plane and insulated from each other.

19. In a device of the characterdescribed, a switch body l portion, movable contact meansinounted to assume a plurality of def- #inite predetermined .positions relative to said body portion, aplurality ofterminals, contactportions cooperating with said movable contact means electricallyv connected with j said. terminals, said contact portions being arranged ina single tier, each of said contact portions mounted so `as to occupy a position;

corresponding to a position ofsaid movable contact means, agpair of contact portions in engagement with said movable contact means in t'wo successive positions thereof being connected with a single terminal and means for movin said movable contact means'into each o its positions by snap action, said movable contact means comprising a pair of bridging contact members insulated from each other and each engageable with eacli contact portion.

20. In a device of the character described, an -insulating body portion having faces thereonproviding a series of ratchet teeth,

movable contact means rotatable step by step i into position opposite alternating faces on said teeth,`and contact means having portions overlying a plurality of said alternating faces, the contactmeans onl two succeeding alternating faces being electrically connected together.

21. In adevice of the-character described, van insulating body portion having faces thereon providing a series of ratchet teeth,

movable contact means rotatablestep by step A into position opposite alternating faces on said teeth, and'contact means having portions overlying a plurality of said'alternating faces, the contact means on two succeedling alternating faces being electrically connected together, and one of'said alternating faces having nocontact means ,thereea isc 2Q. ln a device of the character described, an insulating body portion having faces thereon providing a series of ratchet teeth, movable contact` means rotatable step by step into position opposite alternating faces on said teeth, and contact means having porf tions overlying a plurality of said alternating faces, the contact means on two succeeding alternating faces being electrically connected together, and one of said alternating faces having no contact means thereon, said last mentioned face lying substantially opposite one of said electrically connected contact portions.

23. In a device of the character described, an` insulatingr body portion provided with a plurality of ratchet faces, stationary contacts mounted on certain of said ratchet faces and a movable contact member having a pair of yieldable bridging contacts insulated rom each other mounted thereon cooperating With said stationary contacts, either end of each of said bridging contacts being engageable with each of said stationary contacts.

24. A. device of the character described having a plurality of circumferentially arranged relatively stationary contacts serving respectively as circuit terminals for a source of current supply and for tno translating device circuits, and two bridging contacts insulated one from lthe other rotatable .step by step in the same direction into sc-k lccted relationship to said stationary contacts to selectively connect said translating device circuits in series or parallel or open circuit relationship to said source of current.

25. In a device of the character described the combination of a plurality bf stationary contacts. two rotatable bridging contacts insnlatingly mounted one from the other, circuit terminals for a source of power, circuit terminals for two'translating device circuits, and interconnections, the latter three elements being associated with said contacts to permit a series-parallel control of said translating' device circuit terminals, and a sin` gle hill and valley runway for said rotatable contacts whereby a snap-action movement thereof is Secured.

In Witness whereof, l hereunto subscribe my name this 7th day of October A. D., 1925.

VICTOR R. DESPARD. 

